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much their utter insufficiency as sources of consolation, at the same time I see their utility. The all-wise Governor of the world permits nothing in vain. These monuments of earthly grandeur are decorated and embellished by human ingenuity; and in contemplating them, may we not silently adore Him who has endowed man with skill and knowledge, and formed all things beautiful to the eye and pleasant to the senses?

The mourning parents can with difficulty be persuaded to turn their steps in any other direction than that which leads to the cold receptacle of all that now remains of their lovely child: and there they comfort each other in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection from the dead. Their days glide swiftly on, while every hour lessens the period of separation. All are travelling onwardAnny has but outstepped her father and mother: they must endure a few more storms, and then “there remaineth a rest for all the people of God!" May the everlasting arm shield each in their turn: and may they, by faith, be enabled to bear the chastening of the Lord without a murmur, until their appointed time come.

March 14. The minds of the people here are distracted with rumours of war. The Austrian forces are collected, and making rapid progress towards Naples: and it is feared that, whether they are the victors or the vanquished, the Papal territories will be invaded. In a few days they are ex

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most grateful feelings for their unwearied attention to this excellent man, who, wherever he goes, attaches to himself friends by no common bonds. His conversation at this time is rendered peculiarly interesting, for eternity appears always in his view. During the last two years his sight has been failing fast, to which he seemed perfectly resigned, only wishing and praying if it had pleased the Lord that it might be preserved, so far as to admit of his reading the Bible to the end of his days. It has been his regular practice for many years to rise very early, that he might devote the quiet morning hours to the study of the Holy Scriptures. By faith in the precious promises which he found therein contained, he was wonderfully supported, as I have already mentioned to you, under the bereavement with which the Lord has recently been pleased to try him. When the child of his old age, in whom his heart was bound up, lay like the cold and senseless marble before him, he said to her mother," But for you and my children, I would gladly lay down my head beside her, and never raise it more." I have often seen the tears roll down his venerable cheeks, which, at the sound of the feeble voice of his dear child calling on him in plaintive accents, "Papa, papa, come to me;" he would hastily dry away, and with a smile on his countenance, go to her with some kindly cheer ing expression.

This day our walk was to the Porto del Popolo,

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EXECUTION OF TWO MURDERERS.

where we saw the guillotine erected for the execution of two murderers, which is to take place at ten o'clock. We stood for a moment looking at this awful instrument of justice, and could perceive that it was so contrived that the death of the criminal must be instantaneous. The axe is let

down by pullies, to which are attached two hundred and twenty pounds of lead; consequently, it falls with great force.

June 15. There were some interesting particulars concerning the execution yesterday, which Abbé G. has just related to us. The two young men, one twenty-three, the other twenty-seven years of age, were brought to the guillotine at the appointed hour. The youngest, confessing his crime, and the justice of his punishment, immediately underwent the sentence of death. The other denied both, and accompanied the declarations of his innocence with such blasphemous imprecations, that a gag was put into his mouth, and his execution put off until half-past six o'clock in the afternoon, the latest moment which the law would admit. All the day he was attended by priests, and the members of a confraternity, whose business it is to attend delinquents, for the purpose of exhorting them to repentance and confession; but no arguments which they could urge seemed to make the least impression. The obdurate criminal remained inflexible even when brought for the last time upon the piazza, and after having heard the

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last awful adjuration of the priests to confess his crime before he was hurled into eternity. Again horrid imprecations fell from his lips. The priests in despair called upon the multitude assembled to witness this impressive catastrophe. "We have done what we could; there remains nothing more for us, we appeal to you. Use your efforts if any thing can avail to strike upon this rock." In a moment, a universal shout from the lips of above four thousand people rent the air, as the voice of one man: "O salvate l'anima, per l'amor di Dio!" The wretched sinner was overpowered, he threw himself on his knees, confessed his crime, received absolution, and in one awful moment stood before the presence of his God!

June 16. My daily occupation is now to instruct and amuse the children, their poor mother being so much occupied that she can seldom see them; and I can yield her no other assistance, as in the hour of suffering her husband wishes none but herself and the medical attendants to be present. This day in our walk we again directed our steps to the Porto del Popolo; where, hearing sacred music from one of the beautiful churches which adorn its entrance, the children wished to enter. We perceived that the full band were playing, while a priest before the altar was receiving the sacrament. He took the cup in his hand, from which he quaffed such long draughts that the astonished children exclaimed, "Look aunt, he will

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be intoxicated!" not satisfied with one draught he again and again applied the cup to his lips until he had drained it. This I rather think is a usual practice, from an anecdote told to us by a German Protestant, who heard it from the priest himself to whom it relates. He had made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem without a sous in his purse to defray his expences; and boastingly added, that in each town he passed through, he said mass, for which he received 15 biocchj (about 73d. of our money,) and that the wine which he drank in receiving the Sacrament served for his breakfast.

June 19. We have had a pleasant drive to the Villa Altieri, which now lies abandoned to destruction by the desolating scourge of the environs of Rome, the malaria; though every circumstance of situation combines to render this villa peculiarly beautiful. On every side there is some interesting and lovely object. The majestic remains of an aqueduct extend in the distance. Close to these is the beautiful ruin of the Temple of Minerva Medica, and the back-ground is adorned with the noble church of St. John Lateran. The villa itself displays the remains of former magnificence and luxury; still in its spacious gardens are many embowering walks impenetrable to the scorching sunbeams. In some of these, called the labyrinth, the children and I strayed and became quite entangled in its mazes. We frequently walk to the Coliseum on Sunday and Friday evenings to hear the vocal